bluetooth speakers – Tech Raman

ZAKK Woodstock Bluetooth Speaker with Retro design Launched in India

Lakshmi Rajan — Tue, 07 May 2019 16:51:01 +0000

There is something endearing about retro, classic designs and that is what the newly launched ZAKK Woodstock wireless speaker is betting upon. Clad in leather and wood finish it has an old-school retro vibes and can be a head turner at your living room with the convenience of wireless connectivity. Priced at Rs 4,999 the Zakk Woodstock speaker comes with two 12W speakers, a sub-woofer and a built-in mic. The built-in 2200mAh battery promises an 8 hours audio playback and takes around 3-4 hours to charge completely. The Speaker is available through Amazon, Flipkart and Paytm, and offline stores. Speaking about ZAKK Woodstock, Anuj Chokra, Founder & CEO – ZAKK, said, “The ZAKK Woodstock Bluetooth Speakers is a compact, stout-hearted hero with a well-balanced audio which boasts a clear midrange and extended highs for a sound that is both articulate and pronounced. The premium leather and hardwood finish on this speaker brings the old-school retro vibes back into modern times. So, turn on, tune in & drop out!” The ZAKK wirless speaker range also include the Lounge and Party Bluetooth speakers. These are priced at Rs 3,999 and Rs 3,799, respectively and are available through online and offline stores. ]]>

Anker SoundCore Sport XL Review

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 10:23:43 +0000

Anker SoundCore Sport XL Specs

Total RMS Power: 2×8 Watts
Speaker Drivers: 2 mid-high range drivers
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.1
Ports: a 5V 2A USB output, 3.5mm aux input, Micro USB charging port
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
Power: Rechargeable lithium polymer battery
Dimensions: 175x78x43mm
Weight: 365 grams

What is in the box?

Speaker,
a hand strap,
micro USB charging cable,
warranty cards and instruction guide.

Build and design:

The SoundCore XL is built like a rock. The front has a metal grille mesh and the rest is made of a durable, tough plastic. The rear is appealing with squared off sections giving it an armoured look. The middle section at the back is where the passive bass radiator is underneath it. The edges are rounded off and smooth with no sharp edges making it easy to hold and carry. The bottom section seals the ports tightly from water getting in. It houses the aux input, micro USB input and USB output. The top has five buttons – power, volume down, play/pause, volume up and Bluetooth pairing button. On the upper right edge, there are four small indicator lights for battery indication. A small metal bar here helps you attach the wrist strap that comes along the box. While the speaker is hefty weighing over 365 grams, it also makes this more durable. The buttons are very responsive to touch and gives a clicky sound upon pressing. The speaker is shock resistance making it a perfect outdoor music companion and is dust-tight. The SoundCore Sports XL comes with an IP67 rating that can withstand 1 meter underwater for 30 minutes.

Connectivity – Range

Anker claims a 20-meter Bluetooth range on these speakers and without walls obstructing you do get around 20 meters of connectivity which is pretty good for outdoor use. Even at home with walls blocking I got a better range than many other Bluetooth speakers I have tested.

Battery life

Anker claims 15 hours of constant playback on the SoundCore Sports XL. My tests proved the claims very much true. My results were very close to the claims. What is worth noting is the phone can reverse charge your device like Smartphone with its 5V 2A USB output.

Performance Quality

Anker makes some good speakers, surprisingly not many must be aware of it as it is not a name that would pop up immediately when someone says Bluetooth speaker. The SoundCore XL has two 8W stereo drivers along with two dual passive subwoofers for bass. It produces loud music which should be good enough for a small to medium sized rooms and spreads nicely in the outdoor environs too. The bass is rich and has a punch though not completely overshadowing the vocals and trebles, which is a good sign. The vocals are well pronounced. The mids tend to be slightly pushed back. The soundstage is fairly wide. Overall the Anker SoundCore Sports XL is decently good in this range. The Anker has a direct competition in WonderBook UE which is also a tough cookie with water resistance but takes a different design cue.

Verdict:

Anker SoundCore Sports XL is a good outdoor Bluetooth speaker and if you want to enjoy music near a Swimming pool or while bath. It is a tough speaker that can withstand a fair amount of abuse. It is priced at Rs 5,990 in India.]]>

Astrum ST 150 SoundBox Bluetooth Speaker Review

Lakshmi Rajan — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:00:58 +0000

While Bluetooth speakers offer mobility and wireless advantages, a big reason I love checking out various Bluetooth speaker models are for the sheer quirky designs the manufacturers come out with. The speakers are available in various colors, shapes and designs and that attracts me a lot. Astrum is a Hongkong based company that manufacturers a range of computer accessories and speakers, what I got here is a pocket sized speaker and let’s see in this Astrum ST150 Soundbox Bluetooth speaker review how it fares in terms of design and performance.

Specifications:

Dimension: 124 x 47 x 20mm (L x W x H)
Weight: 115 gms
Bluetooth 4.0
Range upto 10m
Output: 5W x 2
Frequency response: 180Hz – 18kHz
Speakers: 32mm diaphragm (2 speaker)
Battery: 700mAh Li-Ion
Charging time: upto 2.5 hours
Play time: up to 4 hours

Box contents:

Speaker
Manual
microUSB cable
Lanyard cable

Design

Mouth organ musical instrument. That’s the first thought that came in mind when I opened the box and took a look at the device. The Astrum ST 150 is very compact and can be slid into trouser pocket. The build quality is top notch, the side has a metallic finish with chamfered edges giving it a neat, clean look. The oxidised color of the side panel makes it visually appealing. Even the power button on the right side has a quality build and sports a concentric patterned design, adding more marks to the design. Next to the power button is the microUSB port. To make carrying easier, there is an lanyard eye and the box includes a cable in case you want to use it. Sitting behind the front speaker grille are two 5 watts speakers.

Performance

Astrum ST 150 is a pint sized speaker and understandably I kept my expectations compact too. The speaker output is loud enough for the small size. The bass is weak though, if you are fond of it. The trebles are Ok but there is distortion if you crank up the volume to max. It should be noted the frequency response starts at 180Hz , so low frequency notes suffers but being a small speaker, it is ideally not for audiophile indulgence rather for better portability and sneaking it on your small bag or pocket and music on the go. There is a mic, so you can use it as a handsfree speaker phone to attend calls. The call quality is average. The Astrum ST 150 does not offer extra features like FM or SD card support. There is no aux input too.

Verdict

Astrum ST 150 retails around Rs 2700 in India which is quiet a hefty price undoubtedly. If you are looking for a pocket fitting Bluetooth speaker, Astrum ST 150 works well. Its handy and has a good build quality and you can listen on the go and is compact to drop in your pocket and move around.]]>

Logitech X50 mini wireless speaker launched in India; Priced at Rs 2,495

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 11:05:21 +0000

Remember the X100 review we did sometime back? Logitech then followed it with X300 and now has outed X50 in the Indian market. Like the other two siblings, the X50 looks peppier, quirkier and playful and a compact bluetooth speaker for music on the go. Priced at Rs 2.495 the Logitech X50 Mobile Wireless Speaker is available in a range of colors – gray, yellow, orange or blue. Apart from the Bluetooth, the other connectivity options include auxiliary jack. A handy volume control is built-in. It has a wireless connection range up to 30 feet. Ashok Jangra, Cluster Category Manager, India & South West Asia, Logitech. “The Logitech X50 Mobile Wireless Speaker gives you exactly that. Deceptively loud for its size – and price – this speaker is highly portable and it makes a big scene wherever you go. Paired with its bright colors, you’ll see it’s a whole lot of fun.” So do you love wireless speakers? Did you like the Logitech X50? Do let us know.]]>

STK Groovez SMC650 Bluetooth Speaker Review: A Pint Sized Big Performer

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:53:36 +0000

Tiny Bluetooth speakers have proliferated the markets and come in varied shapes, sizes and features. I personally prefer these small cute speakers which are epitome of portability within the home as well as when you are packing smart and traveling light. STK Accessories is a UK-based brand that goes back some 20 years and has presence in a dozen countries with a product portfolio in mobile accessories including speakers, powerbanks and cases. When the Groovez SMC650 from their kitty arrived at my desk, the not-so-flamboyant design didn’t excite me much but looks can be deceiving and I was up for some pleasant surprises. Before we delve into the finer details, here is what STK Groovez SMC 650 0ffers to give you a head start.

3 Watt speaker
Bluetooth connectivity
Built-in FM
Speakerphone function
MicroSD card support
Aux in function
300mAh battery
Up to 3 hours music playback
10meters range
Weight 163 grams

The SMC 650 comes in a rather big box for the tiny speaker but the package details adequate information prominently for people who would be glancing through on store shelves. The box content includes: the speaker, 3.5mm audio in-line cable, microUSB charging cable and a user manual that gives comprehensive info on the speaker.

Design and build quality

The bluetooth speakers have given a creative liberty to the product designers to get maverick in their designs. There are speakers looking like hand-grenade and even STK’s flasko speakers have a quirky design but with Groovez, they have opted for a sober design that might not gather curious looks but a design that finds common ground between functionality, portability and decent looks. A glossy body wraps the speaker and thin chrome trim separates the bottom where the controls rests. The Groovez branding is subtly placed, I like it when the brands don’t go about screaming about their name loud. Around the edges on one side you can access the music and speaker phone controls in metallic finish- the play/pause, volume up and down that also works as track change buttons, and a button to answer/end calls. Move around the edge, you will find the AUX input, a red indicator that blinks when the power is low or when charging, the charging port and a microSD slot. There is rubber strip circling the base for extra grip when you place the speaker on table. You also find the power on/off button. There are also pair of LED’s which glow when the bluetooth is On. The top has the speaker grille with a chrome ring accentuating it. A 3 watts speaker is housed inside.

Performance

Pairing the Groovez SMC650 to your device is pretty straight forward. A voice prompt notifies you when the speaker is on and ready for pairing and also when it is paired. It also prompts you when the battery juice is running low and the device needs to be charged. There are two blue LED’s at the base and they flicker when the device is searching for bluetooth devices and goes steady when it is connected. Pressing the play/pause button shifts between various modes, the default being the bluetooth. The ‘tuner mode’ tunes for all the FM channel signals and once tuned, you can listen to the FM channels, the controls to shift channels are the previous / next buttons. The FM audio quality is pretty good with no disturbance. The in-line cable acts the antenna for the FM connectivity. If you have your favourite collections stored in a microSD card, you can insert the card into the TF reader slot and listen to your playlists. Here too, the previou/next buttons comes in handy for the song navigation. Don’t allow the small size of the Groovez SMC650 to deceive you, the tiny speaker can throw a high volume and still retain the clarify. The vocals are crisp. What I really appreciate of the speaker is its ability to balance the bass and treble nicely. The individual notes are sharp and even if you crank up the volume, it doesn’t get muddier. Simply put, its pleasure to listen on this speaker almost all genres of music. Unlike some other speakers which tend to irritate you with a harsh voice prompt, the prompts here are pleasing.

Verdict:

This little wireless speaker is one of the best I have come across in this price segment. A good music re-production, and with its built-in FM and micro SD card support as add-on features, it offers great value for money. At Rs. 2,199 the Groovez SMC650 is a good deal. ]]>

AsiaPower PowerSound 405 Bluetooth Speaker Review – A tiny little surprise!

Lakshmi Rajan — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:21:38 +0000

Bluetooth speakers are more of a matter of convenience. They are handy, easy to carry around and clutter free. My wife loves listening to her playlist while in kitchen or when indulging in her hobbies or at work and she loves the wireless speakers for the fact she can carry her music around. There are many like her and you can even toss the speakers into your handbag and travel. So wireless speakers are increasingly getting popular and even getting better at delivering good audio. Today, we have a tiny little Bluetooth speaker at our review desk and this one is from AsiaPower, a Mumbai headquartered company which is a joint venture with Powercom Co. Ltd, Taiwan. Before we get into the fine details of the PowerSound 405 speaker, here is what it offers.

3 Watt speaker
A2DP function
Bluetooth connectivity
Aux in function
Speakerphone function
400mAh battery
More than 2 hours music playback
10meters range
Water resistant rubber oil finish

Design and build quality – Tiny little Cone

The PowerSound 405 is really small. Smaller than the smallest of the coffee cup I have in my kitchen. So it doesn’t need a second description of how portable it is. You can sneak it easily into your hand bag without worrying about the extra space or weight. It weighs 141grams. It just need a teeny little space to keep it anywhere. It also sports an interesting conical design with a nice looking triangle facet on the sides. It reminds me of the conical drums. The body is made of rubberized material which gives the extra grip and also has a nice texture to it. It also could easily handle the occasional bumps and falls it might encounter without any problem. The bottom side of the speaker houses the controls and we have the power switch as well as play/pause button, call button and two buttons that doubles forward/backward for tracks as well as volume controls. Going with the triangle design language on the facet, event the buttons are carved out in similar geometrical pattern. There is also a thin, black rubber strip which is more to shield the bottom from the dust and scratches. On the bottom of the side, you find the aux-input, USB port for charging as well as a microphone. There is also a small status indicator tucked in the sides (you can see it glowing in one of the pictures above) and a vertically written logo is not screaming on the face. The top has the speaker grille and inside nests the 3W speaker and the PowerSound 405 does not deliver a 360degreee sound experience and hey, we cannot expect that either in this tiny little speaker box.

On the march, get,pair, listen

Pairing the PowerSound 405 is a breeze. Once your Smartphone is paired, the next time the speaker auto connects when the Bluetooth is on at your device. When you power on the speaker, there is a sound indicator which is neither loud nor meek, and the bluish status indicator blinks awaiting a Bluetooth connection. Once a bluetooth relationship is maintained, the indicator light steadies. A short press on the volume / next track buttons shift the tracks and a long press adjusts the volume. The buttons are quiet responsive and though both the functions were put into the same button, it did not falter when performing.

What about performance?

Frankly, I did not had much expectation when I first saw this little fellow. It also happens, when we have least expectations, there is surprise awaiting at times. It was a moment of surprise when I played the first song and it also happened that the first listen had crisp vocals and a wonderful string instrument to begin with, which the PowerSound 405 capably delivered to its good ability. Immediately, it was evident the 405 is good at trebles. The vocals are crisp and the clarity neat. If your kind of music is bass-heavy, you will be disappointed with the PowerSound 405, this is simply not meant for you. I really liked the sharpness of the individual notes and the clarity the PowerSound 405 could throw. Being a small speaker, it cannot fill the room for a party but for your family and especially for an individual soul casually unwinding or engaged at work simultaneously listening to music, this works. Sound is consistent and clear and may be there is this slightest hint of tininess on high notes but not particular to crib about. I don’t like attending calls on a Bluetooth speaker but for the sake of testing when I did try, the first call I attended and I could hear the PR friend telling me, she can’t hear me. Though later, few more calls went through OK but I would stick to just listening music with this speaker. The box claims a 10meter working range and when I tested it, it worked to that claim but without any walls to break in. A wall could disturb the range.4 A small body also means less space for battery, so the speaker squeezes in just a 400mAh battery with a listed playback timing of 2 hours and our tests yielded a good a little more than 3 hours at 50% volume. So if you are outdoor, you might have to carry a powerbank and a small consolation, small battery charges up fast and also your powerbank probably has a better capacity to fire it for multiple times.

To buy or not

The PowerSound 405 comes at a MRP tag of Rs 1,999 but I found it selling in the range of Rs. 1,599 to Rs 1,099 at e-commerce sites and at those price points it definitely is worth a buy. If your kind of music is not thumping bass and is a mix of rich vocals and mid-range, PowerSound 405 is a good buy at this price for its size. The music might not be filling but has an air of crispness and rich clarity.]]>

Astrum Symphony BT-027N Review

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 18:40:12 +0000

You are pampered by choices when it comes to Bluetooth speakers. Problem of plenty. Here at our review desk, we got Astrum Symphony BT-027N, portable small wireless speaker, a rectangular music box that can be easily moved around. Aimed primarily at casual music listeners, the built-in speakerphone functionality is an added advantage. We rest our case on this box here. So what Astrum offers here?

Primarily a bluetooth speaker (but also .. has)
NFC support
aux-in port music play
MicroSD card play back
Speaker phone functionality

That is quiet a versatile list to boast but ultimately it boils down to performance. So we put the speaker into test here. The Symphony BT-027N is a compact meshed rectangular box measuring 6.6 x 6.6 x 10.3mm making it easy to sneak into your hand bag. It weighs just 255g, so you don’t have to worry about the weight. The meshed cage houses a 2 Speakers + 2 passive radiators inside. If you have a chrome-fetish, you will love the abundant glean in the music box as it has good amount of glossy metallic surface around it. At first look, it looks cool with the metallic panels but it tends to get scratched easily and a closer look would disappoint you. The review unit we received already has many scratches and it doesn’t augur well. Matte finish would have been better choice than the glossy silver and they have actually used it for the ‘L’ shaped strip that is found in the middle of the box. The strip has Astrum logo with LED backlit button at one side. It is used to play/pause tracks or answer/end calls. The other side has previous/next and volume control button. The top of the box has a metallic slab and a thin vertical chrome strip connects to the bottom. You will find the aux input, microSD card slot and micro-USB port for charging at the base chrome strip. Turn to the bottom, there is a rubber strip for grip and also you find the power on/off switch.

Get, Pair, Listen & Talk

Pairing the device to the Symphony BT-027N is fairly simple. A rather loud voice prompt tells you the speaker is ready when you turn on the speaker. It also prompts you when a device is paired. Once a device pairing is setup, next time it automatically connects when the Bluetooth is on. NFC pairing is pretty straight forward and just a tap away but it failed to connect at few times. Also, listening to music directly from your microSD card is a good addition and works neatly. The previous/next buttons also double up as volume controls, with a short press changing the track and a long press changing volume. A separate controls for each would have been good since at many times, when I tried increasing the volume, I ended up changing tracks and vice versa. The LED backlit around the Astrum logo turns blue when the speaker is on and connected via Bluetooth and turns green when you use aux input connectivity. In between listening to music, you can also attend calls with Symphony BT-0127N. You can press the Astrum button to answer/end a call or double press it to call the last dialled number.

The Performance Notes…

The first time I turned on the device and listened to my favourite track, I was disappointed. For all the features it packs, the Symphony BT-027N is not the best of the small blocks out there. After few hours of playing, the speaker tends to get a bit matured but still is an under performer. While the vocals are better, the background music gets muddier especially if there are many instruments. While the speaker can deliver high volume, the more you crank up the notes gets distorted. Still, you will be surprised by how much volume can come out of the small box. The base though not literally pounding the block, is better at what it delivers. The speaker is best when at moderate volume and if you are just about a casual music listener, the Symphony can play in background when you are working at kitchen, working at your desk or just reading a book on a lazy noon. Talking about the call quality when used as a hands free speakerphone , it is pretty decent with loud and clear sound. The Bluetooth range of the speaker is good enough and can extend 25-30 feet and few walls in between. The Symphony BT-027N houses a 1,300mAh battery and the company claims seven to ten hours of playback. I was able to squeeze out almost eight hours out of it.

Does the Symphony strikes the right chord?

What tilts in favour of Astrum Symphony BT-027N is being the host of connectivity options and easy set up but what puts down heavily is the mediocre performance especially considering the fact it comes at a MRP of INR 3,200 and at this range there is a better picks from popular brands like Logitech and JBL at the price point. ]]>

Turn your wired speaker into wireless with this Logitech Bluetooth Adapter

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 11:37:02 +0000

So you have this awesome speaker but you have your favourite playlist on your smartphone or tablet. Streaming the songs to your speaker wireless would be cool thing right? Now you don’t need to buy a good expensive Bluetooth speaker but easily convert your existing wired speaker system by hooking on to this Logitech bluetooth adapter. The set up includes a small matchbox sized adaptor that you can connect to your home theater system or computer speakers with a standard analog RCA or 3.5 mm cable that comes out of the box. Then you can pair your smartphone or tablet to the adapter and play music. The Logitech Bluetooth adapter comes at a retail price of Rs. 1,995. [gallery link="file" ids="7719,7720,7721"]]]>

Turn your wired speaker into wireless with this Logitech Bluetooth Adapter

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 11:37:02 +0000

Logitech X100 Mobile Wireless Speaker Review

Lakshmi Rajan — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 23:58:08 +0000

The best thing I like about these Bluetooth wireless speakers? The quirky designs and colors. Many companies are coming up with interesting design language in various price formats making this segment really ‘hot and happening’. Logitech has a good portfolio of Bluetooth speakers including their top-of-the-line Boombox series. They also have some really cool affordable speakers and today we have Logitech X100 wireless speaker falling in the $60 price bracket. In India it has a MRP sticker price of Rs 2,995. In our Logitech X100 wireless mobile speaker review, let’s take a look at the good, bad and I don’t think there would be anything ugly about it but still – we will rest our case at the end. The X100 comes in a well-thought of package that gives a good view of the product within. With design playing an important factor to attract consumers, the package does justice to it. The box contents includes a manual, a USB cable and the portable speaker. Surprisingly there is no power adapter included, so you may have to use your phone or tablet power adapter to charge the speaker or the PC / laptop via the USB cable. The X100 is a pretty basic device. It looks like a rounded lunch box with a smooth protrusion with a closed gap where a short lanyard (included with the device) can be attached to. The front face of the speaker has a plastic mesh with an interesting asymmetrical visual pattern made out of the perforations. At 3.35-inch diameter, the X100 is portable and can fit easily into any travel bag and also to carry it around. The included nylon strap is secured through plastic nubs but it feels delicately attached that I feel it might giveaway any time. So I prefer not to hang the speaker for much. The body initself is made out of a combination of plastic and rubber. Apart from the plastic mesh, there casing is made out of rubberized material and offers good grip and feels sturdy. Along the perimeter, the controls are nested as if etched to the case. There is a plus and minus buttons for volume controls, between them is a Bluetooth connecting button and then there is a small power button spaced slightly away. There is a ring along the buttons and they give a warm blue glow. The bluetooth button also works as play/pause button. Follow the sides and you will find an audio input, a Micro-USB port. The cut-out are neat with smooth edges giving extra brownie points to the premium feel. The rear has the company name and logo etched into subtly.

How does it perform?

The X100 has a single 2.5inch speaker driver perched inside. For the small size, Logitech X100 throws very good audio output. It delivers surprisingly good mid-range and treble frequencies. The volume also maxes out pretty nice considering the size of the device and even at the maximum volume, it handles well the high frequency sound. Of course it does not out a stereo sound and we have to content with the monaural output. For an average music buff looking forward to a decent wireless speaker at a budget price, X100 performs decently good enough though a good ear can pick the lack of depth in the output. With a built-in microphone, the X100 also can double as a hands-free device to attend phone calls, though it is not very great at the department giving out a muffled output but you can manage with it for your random calls while you are kitchen stirring the pot or building a lego for your son. The bluetooth range of the X100 is manageable if not the 10meter range, it should see through a wall or two and 15-18 feets. The X100 gives a 5 hours playback and recharges back fully in 1 hour.

The final call

So is X100 worth the bucks? Absolutely. For US $50 or INR 2,990 it offers a good package – good looks, decent performance for the price, sturdy build quality. It’s a no-frills speaker and if you are looking for a portable, lightweight speaker to carry around at home or as a travel companion, X100 is a good choice.]]>